District of Lunenburg
Find everything you need to ensure your waste is set out properly, collected reliably, and diverted effectively from landfill. If you have questions, review the waste sorting brochures, your 2025 District of Lunenburg Waste Collection Calendar, email info@southshorewaste.ca or call (902) 543-2991.
2026 District of Lunenburg Waste Collection Calendar
Your Collection Day May Be Changing
Your Waste Collection Day Might Be Changing
To improve efficiency, waste collection routes in the District of Lunenburg will be changing in 2026. Currently, there are ten collection routes completed over a two-week period, Monday through Friday, with holiday collections taking place on Saturdays.
Starting March 30, 2026, this will change to eight collection routes, completed Tuesday through Friday over a two-week period. Holiday collections will move to Mondays. These changes will be permanent.
- Current routes will remain in effect until March 27, 2026.
- New routes will take effect beginning March 30, 2026.
Waste collection begins at 7:00 a.m. on scheduled days. Please ensure all materials are placed at the roadside by that time.
Regular bi-weekly collection will continue to include: green cart (organics), paper and cardboard, recyclable containers, garbage and up to two bulky landfill items. Special collections—including fall wood and metal pickup, electronics and Christmas tree collection—will continue to be offered annually.
View updated waste collection route maps (effective March 30, 2026):
District of Lunenburg Map – includes all collection routes
Collection Issues
If you’ve missed collection or are experiencing collection issues, call the Waste Hotline at 1 (855) 530-3324. Collection changes and cancellations due to weather and road conditions are aired on CKBW (98.1 FM), posted on the home page of this website and on the South Shore Waste Solutions’ Facebook Page. Call (902) 543-2991 to listen to a message concerning cancellations and waste site closures.
Collection Day & Calendar
One truck collects recyclable containers (blue bags), paper and cardboard and another truck collects garbage, green carts and bulky landfill items.
Wood and metal items are collected during a special collection every fall, not bi-weekly. Waste must be curbside by 7:00 am, not earlier than 5:00 pm the day prior to collection, and within 10 feet of the curb. A total of 4 cubic meters per household, per collection can be accepted. Ensure snow banks are removed from collection areas and boxes so the waste collector can grab bags, green carts and bulky items easily on collection days.
Find your collection day on the collection route map in the middle of the calendar. Half of the District’s communities are collected during shaded weeks while the other half are collected on non-shaded weeks (two-week cycle, each day is a different collection route). Recyclables, paper/cardboard, organics and garbage and two bulky landfill items are collected on the same day.
Collection Guide
Total combined collectible volume of garbage, green cart, paper, cardboard and recyclable containers cannot exceed 4 cubic metres (5.2 cubic yards).
- 10-12 clear garbage bags with one black, white or green bag allowed for personal garbage
- Bags no larger than 75 cm x 120 cm (30 x 47 inches)
- Maximum weight per bag is 25 kgs (55 lbs)
- Bags must be tied securely
- 2 bulky landfill items may be collected every collection at a max size of 1.8 m (6 ft) and 100 kgs (220 lbs) each
- 10-12 bags: transparent blue plastic bag
- Bags no larger than 75 cm x 120 cm (30 x 47 inches) and no smaller than 25 cm x 40 cm (10 x 16 inches)
- Maximum weight per bag is 25 kgs (55 lbs)
- Bags must be tied securely
- Recyclables must be clean
- Lids on except for glass bottles and containers (lids off). Lids go in bag.
- Do not mix containers and cans with paper items
- Transparent blue plastic bag
- Keep the bag dry
- Bag dimensions no larger than 75 cm x 120cm and no smaller than 25 cm x 40 cm
- Maximum weight per bag is 25 kgs (55lbs)
- Bags must be tied securely
- Flatten, bundle, tie and place it out with your bags of recyclables and paper
- Maximum weight of each bundle of cardboard is 25kg (55lbs)
- Maximum dimensions of each bundle of cardboard is 2ft x 2ft x 3 ft (large boxes such as stove or fridge are not permitted)
- Keep it dry
- 1 green cart, issued by the municipality
- Paper green cart liners are accepted; plastic-type compostable bags are not accepted
- Paper leaf bags must be used for bagged leaves and yard waste or placed in the cart; plastic leaf bags are not accepted.
- Cool wood ashes from your stove for 4 weeks before putting it in your cart. Wet them down and check for hot spots. Hot ashes can cause fires.
Items that are broken such as plates, glasses, knives, sawblades and glass items must be placed in a sealed container or box and labelled “broken glass” or “sharp”. Place this beside your garbage bags. Needle sharps cannot be placed in garbage or blue bags.
Residents and businesses can drop off electronics free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions.
Electronic items are also collected during a special fall pickup. Three electronic items can be collected per household. Please ensure items are not smashed when they are placed at the curbside.
Fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, conditioners and water coolers cannot be placed curbside unless they’re professionally drained and stickered. Drop these items off at South Shore Waste Solutions, 908 Mullock Road, Whynott’s Settlement, free of charge. For more information and a full list of accepted items visit Recycle My Electronics or call (902) 543-2991.
Residents and businesses can drop off wood and metal products at South Shore Waste Solutions year-round. Metal can be dropped off free of charge; there is a tipping fee for wood; minimum charges may apply.
Wood and metal are also collected during a special fall pickup.
The combined wood and metal collection limits for the District of Lunenburg is 4 cubic meters (5.2 cubic yards) and items may weight up to 140 kgs (309 lbs) each. Items may measure up to 1.8 m (6 ft). Remove all spikes and brackets over 15 cm (6 in) from wooden pieces and place wood and metal in separate piles.
Leaf and yard waste is collected year round on your regular waste collection day. A maximum of 3 bags or bundles of branches can be collected if your green cart is curbside and 4 bags or bundles if your green cart isn’t curbside. Additional leaf and yard waste can be dropped off at South Shore Waste Solutions for an associated fee.
Paper bags must be used for leaf and yard waste. Plastic bags are not permitted. Paper leaf and yard waste bags grind easily and break down quickly when they are processed. Plastic bags and plastic-type biodegradable bags get stuck in grinding equipment and cause contamination in the compost. Paper bags are available at most hardware, department and grocery stores. Leaf and yard waste can also be collected directly in your green cart.
Each bag may weigh up to 25 kgs (55 lbs).
Branches and limbs up to 1 meter (3 feet) long, and individual pieces no bigger than 5cm (2 inches) in diameter can be collected. Branches must be tied and bundled, weighing up to 25 kgs (55 lbs) per bundle.
Items Not Collected Curbside
Brush – Brush larger than 5cm (2 inches) in diameter and longer than 1m (3 feet) in length cannot be collected curbside. Property owners wishing to get rid of brush from an existing, cleared lot for the purpose of reducing wildfire risk may drop off the brush free of charge to South Shore Waste Solutions as part of the Municipality’s FireSmart Brush program. Find out more on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Electronics – These are collected during one special pickup day in the fall. These items can also be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Lightbulbs – Can be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Batteries – Can be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Household Hazardous Waste – Residential household hazardous waste can be delivered year-round to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Sharps – Sharps cannot be placed in garbage or blue bags. They can be delivered to a local pharmacy free of charge using a sharps bucket provided by the pharmacy.
Tires – Up to four tires can be delivered to local retailers free of charge. Tires must be taken off rims.
Asphalt Shingles – Can be delivered to South Shore Waste Solutions or a regulated construction and demolition waste landfill. Fees apply.
Fridges, Freezers, Water Coolers and Air Conditioners – Can only be collected curbside if professionally drained and stickered first due to CFC gases contained inside the appliances. These items can be delivered to South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge.
Private Road Collection
Seasonal collection is offered on approved private roads from Victoria Day until the Friday following Thanksgiving within the District of Lunenburg. Scheduled collection is every two weeks. Waste cannot be placed curbside sooner than 5:00 pm the day before collection and no later than 7:00 am the day of collection.
Ensure that you are recycling properly. Clean all recyclables and place food waste in your green cart. Clear bags are required for garbage collection. One black, white or green bag allowed for personal garbage bag is permitted per household, per collection, properly sorted.
Island residents or those with a long driveway can get a backyard composter instead of a green cart by calling 1 (855) 530-3324.
You can find your collection day through the R6Recycles App.
If you miss collection day or will be leaving before the next collection day:
- Ask a neighbor to put your waste out on the scheduled day.
- Put a garbage box by the road to keep animals away from your waste. Call1 (855) 530-3324 for more information about where to place the box.
Winter Maintenance: private roads receiving year round collection must plow snow and sand the road (if necessary) by 7:00 am on collection day. Additionally, turning areas must be cleared. If your road cannot be maintained properly, bring your waste to the intersection of your road and the nearest public road by 7:00 am on collection day. Residents wishing to temporarily suspend collection due to concerns about their road’s condition, call 1 (855) 530-3324.
Spring Weight Restrictions
Spring weight restrictions are imposed for a number of roads in the District of Lunenburg each year due to spring thaw. This includes paved and gravel roads. Look for road restriction signs before putting your waste out for collection in February, March and April. Find more information about restricted roads here, by calling the Department of Public Works 1 (855) 696-7737 or by emailing tirocc@novascotia.ca. If your road is weight-restricted, place your waste at the intersection with the nearest unrestricted, public road by 7:00 am on collection day. Call 1 (855) 530-3324 for further support.
